CaliforniaCityNews.org

Los Angeles At The Forefront Of A New Approach To Fighting Gangs

The Los Angeles Times has an interesting story on Antonio Viillaraigosa's, and law enforcements new approach to gangs. CCN predicts Los Angeles' success or failure will have sweeping effects on crime rates in all cities in southern California and up through the central valley. The mayor's office and the LAPD are promising to consolidate thinly scattered anti-gang resources and pour them into 12 beleaguered neighborhoods -- gang reduction zones -- where intense suppression would be coupled with gang intervention and prevention programs.

That coupling reflects an epiphany of sorts, with law enforcement now voicing a refrain that has long been the lonely cry of civil libertarians and community activists: Street gangs are a social phenomenon that cannot simply be bludgeoned out of existence.

"What we've really had in the past is a mass incarceration strategy," said Jeff Carr, L.A.'s deputy mayor for gang reduction and youth development. "We've locked a lot of people up and we still have this epidemic problem."

Are Local Governments Adding Jobs Nationally?

While California cities prepare to cut budgets and in many instances issue pink slips to workers, USA Today is reporting that state and local governments throughout the country are actually adding to their payrolls despite anemic growth in the private sector.

In fact, Federal, state and local governments are hiring new workers at the fastest pace in six years, helping offset job losses in the private sector.

Governments added 76,800 jobs in the first three months of 2008, the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports.

Housing Assistance and Foreclosure Prevention Package Moving in Congress

According to the Mortgage Bankers Association, 900,000 households were in the foreclosure process during the fourth quarter of 2007, the highest number ever recorded, and up 71 percent over 2006. The Federal Reserve announced that 8.8 million homeowners will have zero or negative equity by the end of March, representing about 10 percent of all homeowners.

In Congress last week the House Committee on Financial Services considered a number of bills aimed at mitigating the home foreclosure crisis. The committee passed two bills, H.R. 5818, the Neighborhood Stabilization Act of 2008, and H.R. 5579, the Emergency Mortgage Loan Modification Act of 2008.

Read more about these efforts at the National League of Cities' website.

State Treasurer Briefs League of Cities on Muni Bond Reform

Although municipal bonds carry a very low default risk for investors, their ratings are subject to higher standards than corporate bonds, mortgage-backed securities and other debt investments. That fact has prompted California Treasurer Bill Lockyer, 10 other state treasurers and financial officers from a number of local agencies, including the city of Los Angeles, to call for rating agency reform.

Treasurer Lockyer briefed the League of California cities board of directors on his campaign earlier this month.  Read more on the League's website.

Electronic Filing Bill Passes Senate

Senate Bill 1204 (Denham) passed the Senate by a 38 to 0 earlier this week, setting the stage for state and local agencies to offer the option of electronically filing "Statements of Economic Interest" (Form 700) for elected and appointed officials and candidates for public office.  The bill is sponsored by the Orange County Board of Supervisors and now moves to the Assembly Rules Committee for further review. 

Read more about SB 1204 in the California Chronicle.

Senate Bill Could Offer Park Grants to Locals

The state Senate voted 24-12 Tuesday to approve Senate Bill 1431 (Wiggins) that would enable the California Department of Parks and Recreation to expand the use of conservation easements to protect state parklands.  According to the Eureka Reporter, the bill would also enable the Dept. of Parks and Rec to "make grants to a state or local government agency, or a non-profit, to purchase and hold a conservation easement with funds that have been appropriated to the department for land acquisitions." 

Get more here.

Half Moon Bay Bailout Bill up for Hearing

City of Half Moon Bay leaders will testify Wednesday before the Local Government Committee of the State Assembly, while dozens of Half Moon Bay citizens will head to Sacramento to rally for passage of AB 1991, the special rescue bill that would help the City avoid an $18 million settlement of a $41.1 million court-imposed liability.

Mayor Bonnie McClung and Officer A. J. Johnson of the Half Moon Bay Police Department will testify in support of AB 1991 at the Local Government Committee hearing. The City entered into a settlement agreement early this month to avoid bankruptcy through the passage of special state legislation (AB 1991) that would reinstate the subdivision plans for two properties, Beachwood and Glencree, which were previously approved in 1990. The bill is a narrowly written “one-off” measure permitting development of the two properties according to the pre-approved subdivision plans without setting a precedent that would undermine the California Coastal Act or any other environmental legislation.

Union City Decision Could Set Precedent for 911 Fees

The SF Chron reported today that the court of appeals has rejected Union City's $3.22-a-month 911 levy as a tax, not a user fee, because it applies to all customers regardless of whether or how often they call 911.  The paper notes that over 20 California cities have implemented similar fees, and with many more considering such a mvoe this could set the stage for a domino affect across the state.  Get the full story here.

Mayor To Offer Viagra To Older Men

Any cities in need of new ideas for their parks and rec program?

One city in Chile might offer an idea - the Mayor of Chilean town who is also a physician is offering free Viagra to men over 60 that meet the physical requirements and not likely to suffer serious side effects.

Hows that for quality of life? CCN will continue to monitor the situation to see if their satisfaction survey returns positive results.

Vacaville Receives Funds to Assist Homeowners

The City of Vacaville was among close to 40 state public agencies to receive funding to hire more counselors to help California homeowners facing interest rate resets and the threat of foreclosure.  The California Reinvestment Coalition (CRC), 10 financial institutions and two foundations announced grant awards earlier thsi month to 39 mortgage counseling agencies through the California Home Ownership Preservation Initiative. 

CCN orginally missed this story, as Vacaville was the lone city to receive any of the $5 million worth of funding.  Luckily for us, the Vacaville Reporter picked up the story.